Marissa Alaniz

Originally an actor, Marissa Alaniz fell into playwriting out of frustration with the female characters she was always cast as or was reading for. Her work lives in the world of dark comedy and often explores queerness, trauma, quotidian horror and misfits. She holds an Associate's degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she received an award for Excellence in Drama from the Lee Strasberg studio. She is a founding member of the Imaginarium Theater Company, which advocates for equity and sustainability in the theater. She recently received her MFA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where she graduated with Distinction.

Originally an actor, Marissa Alaniz fell into playwriting out of frustration with the female characters she was always cast as or was reading for. Her work lives in the world of dark comedy and often explores queerness, trauma, quotidian horror and misfits. She holds an Associate's degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she received an award for Excellence in Drama from the Lee Strasberg studio. She is a founding member of the Imaginarium Theater Company, which advocates for equity and sustainability in the theater. She recently received her MFA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where she graduated with Distinction.

Scripts

big blue

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

Two women-- Alicia, a naval officer and Viv, an oceanographer-- are on a mission from the US military to find the source of a mysterious deep sea humming. But when their tiny submersible gets knocked loose, they must contend with their respective land-bound griefs, tension with each other, and the fear of the inevitable bottom of the ocean.

Two women-- Alicia, a naval officer and Viv, an oceanographer-- are on a mission from the US military to find the source of a mysterious deep sea humming. But when their tiny submersible gets knocked loose, they must contend with their respective land-bound griefs, tension with each other, and the fear of the inevitable bottom of the ocean.

Elizabeth

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

In January of 1947, Elizabeth Short’s body was discovered in an abandoned Los Angeles lot. She had been brutally murdered by an unknown killer. In the 77 years that have since passed, countless books and movies have been written about the case– mostly by men and mostly inaccurately. While men continue to center themselves in her narrative and profit from her death, her case is still no closer to being solved....

In January of 1947, Elizabeth Short’s body was discovered in an abandoned Los Angeles lot. She had been brutally murdered by an unknown killer. In the 77 years that have since passed, countless books and movies have been written about the case– mostly by men and mostly inaccurately. While men continue to center themselves in her narrative and profit from her death, her case is still no closer to being solved. 'Elizabeth' recenters Elizabeth in her own story, follows the events leading up to her death and the investigation that followed it. Tracking two timelines– pre- and post-murder– this play follows Aggie Underwood, a famous female reporter in the post-murder timeline and Elizabeth herself in both timelines.

(un)Bound

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

A pin-up model takes you through the arguments for the empowerment of kink.

A pin-up model takes you through the arguments for the empowerment of kink.

Asphodels

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

Gwen and Toby are happily married and after several miscarriages, are finally expecting their "rainbow baby". When Gwen’s twin brother moves in after a nasty divorce, a chain of events lead to tragedy and a new understanding of the secrets we keep from our loved ones.

Gwen and Toby are happily married and after several miscarriages, are finally expecting their "rainbow baby". When Gwen’s twin brother moves in after a nasty divorce, a chain of events lead to tragedy and a new understanding of the secrets we keep from our loved ones.

Back When We Felt Clean

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

A local high school is shaken by an unspeakable scandal that forces students to re-evaluate everything they know about their lives, relationships, and what they know about kindness.

A local high school is shaken by an unspeakable scandal that forces students to re-evaluate everything they know about their lives, relationships, and what they know about kindness.

Our Place In The Daylight

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

Tracking two timelines, Our Place In The Daylight follows Lucian and Ashton, two people who should not be together. Ashton is unhappily engaged to marry Lucian's son, Lucian is still married to his estranged wife, and they find in each other the comfort they are missing. Our Place In The Daylight looks at what happens when we can't be with the one we love and the fallout of pursuing an ill-fated relationship.

Tracking two timelines, Our Place In The Daylight follows Lucian and Ashton, two people who should not be together. Ashton is unhappily engaged to marry Lucian's son, Lucian is still married to his estranged wife, and they find in each other the comfort they are missing. Our Place In The Daylight looks at what happens when we can't be with the one we love and the fallout of pursuing an ill-fated relationship.

To Listen Past The Quiet

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

As Violet-- freshly divorced and fleeing an abusive relationship-- begins renovating her new house, she learns that not only is it haunted, the ghost that lives there has much to teach her about life, recovery, and how to begin rebuilding her relationship with her estranged sister. To Listen Past The Quiet explores mental health, how our stories get told, and how we heal each other, even across time and space.

As Violet-- freshly divorced and fleeing an abusive relationship-- begins renovating her new house, she learns that not only is it haunted, the ghost that lives there has much to teach her about life, recovery, and how to begin rebuilding her relationship with her estranged sister. To Listen Past The Quiet explores mental health, how our stories get told, and how we heal each other, even across time and space.

Several Miles From Nowhere

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

Tory's running away from Flagstaff. Steven is looking to start a new life there. When they meet in a bar by chance, they realize they have far more in common with a stranger than they ever bargained for. Ten Minute Play.

Tory's running away from Flagstaff. Steven is looking to start a new life there. When they meet in a bar by chance, they realize they have far more in common with a stranger than they ever bargained for. Ten Minute Play.

Subjective, and Vastly Arbirtary

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

Elyse, an American teacher, has just moved to an old English Manor to be the tutor for Annie, a troubled and grieving eleven year old. Between the crass and mysterious groundskeeper and the strict and secretive housekeeper, she quickly begins to unravel a mystery as she realizes not everything is what it seems to be.

Elyse, an American teacher, has just moved to an old English Manor to be the tutor for Annie, a troubled and grieving eleven year old. Between the crass and mysterious groundskeeper and the strict and secretive housekeeper, she quickly begins to unravel a mystery as she realizes not everything is what it seems to be.

Trash

by Marissa Alaniz

Synopsis

Two friends Anette and Katherine pick up litter for a community service project. But among the discarded trash, they find deadly secret that mends their friendship.

Two friends Anette and Katherine pick up litter for a community service project. But among the discarded trash, they find deadly secret that mends their friendship.